When Mohammad Hanif learned that Qatar was offering jobs to Afghans, he joined thousands of others in registering for a chance to earn a livelihood in the wealthy Gulf state, while his own country struggled with high unemployment.
The Taliban government revealed an agreement with a Gulf nation this month, allowing 3,100 workers from Afghanistan to begin applying at centers throughout the country on Tuesday.
By Wednesday, over 8,500 individuals had signed up from the capital Kabul and nearby provinces, according to Samiullah Ibrahimi, a spokesperson for the labor ministry, who spoke to AFP, with more than 15,500 people anticipated to enroll across the country.
The Taliban administration claims that these positions will assist in addressing high levels of unemployment and poverty within a nation of approximately 48 million individuals, who are experiencing what the United Nations describes as one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies globally.
"Our nation faces numerous challenges, with the majority of people living in poverty and taking on irregular jobs," stated Hanif, who came to western Herat from the adjacent Badghis region to enroll.
A 35-year-old stated, 'I possess expertise in automotive repair and culinary arts, along with certifications to support this,' and mentioned his appreciation for Qatar's employment of Afghans.
The competition is intense, yet centers are filled with eager applicants prepared to submit the necessary passports, identification documents, and professional credentials in pursuit of positions spanning from bus driver to janitor, chef, mechanic, and electrician.
Over 1,000 individuals have applied in southern Kandahar for approximately 375 roles available in the area, while in Herat, about 2,000 people stood in line on Wednesday to compete for a limited number of job openings, according to AFP reporters.
Doha instead of Tehran
Qatar, which established an office during the two-decade conflict involving US-led forces, is among a small number of nations that maintain close diplomatic relations with Afghanistan's leaders following their rise to power in 2021. So far, only Russia has officially recognized the Taliban administration.
Talks are also in progress with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, and Russia to establish comparable agreements, said labor minister Abdul Manan Omari in a statement on Tuesday.
"The process is certain to benefit the nation's economy and lower joblessness," stated Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister responsible for economic matters.
Almost half of Afghanistan's population resides in poverty, with an unemployment rate exceeding 13 percent impacting almost a quarter of individuals between the ages of 15 and 29, as reported by the World Bank. Many who are employed struggle to support extensive family networks with limited income.
High unemployment, according to Noorullah Fadwi, leader of an association for job search firms, is caused by infrastructure weakened by four decades of conflict, drought affecting the vital agricultural industry, and the recent large-scale expulsions of Afghans from nearby nations.
This year, almost two million Afghans have come back to their homeland following displacement or deportation from Iran and Pakistan, where numerous individuals had resided for many years.
"We appreciate Qatar and urge other (Arab) nations to also employ Afghan workers, as conditions in Iran and Pakistan are extremely poor," said 39-year-old Noor Mohammad, who signed up in Herat, hoping for a position in a hotel.
'There is nothing'
The Taliban leadership has not yet specified the accommodation arrangements for the Afghan recruits or the conditions under which they might work, while promising to protect their rights.
Qatar, a nation where almost 90 percent of its three million residents are non-nationals, has drawn significant scrutiny regarding the conditions of migrant workers, especially during the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar has implemented significant changes to enhance worker safety and hold employers accountable for breaking the regulations.
It has abolished its "kafala" employment system, which granted employers significant control over whether workers could exit their jobs or the country.
Mohammad Qasim, 37, mentioned that he would avoid traveling to Qatar if he could secure employment in Afghanistan. However, he obtained a university degree in education four years ago and has remained jobless since then.
"I made every effort to find a job, but there's nothing available," he said to AFP, adding that he applied to work as a cleaner at a facility in Kandahar.
At minimum in Qatar, he stated, "I will make some money."